The cycling thread

[Jon Crofts]

Did 75km yesterday with over 3500 feet of ascent, was. Bit like cyclocross at times and came home covered in mud.

[Somniloquism]

If it was country side tracks next to the fields, might be more then mud. Do you have your Rapha 500 routes planned?

[Jon Crofts]

Didn’t do it this year, it’s very hard to complete in Northern Europe. I’ve done 400km but never managed 500.

Today I did my first ever velodrome track session at Velodrome Wales in Newport. A coaches session with our local road club, managed 34mph average in 45 minutes of track time, learned a few new skills and had a great time. Quads now complaining!

[Somniloquism]

I did a starter Velo course at Derby as a special deal in 2018. Unfortunately I don't know what my speeds were like as no GPS data but I know I was the fastest out of the three of us on the course. It was my first time on a fixie and I was aware you used your legs to brake but thought it was easy to stop. Almost had my kneecaps shoot out of my legs when I tried.

I was impressed at the Derby facilities though with the Velo track on a higher level as you enter but the lower level centre containing all the other sports arena from a local Sports centre. (Although as there was a netball team doing practice I was also slightly distracted when going around the track. )  The multi level makes the track banking look very intimidating when first encountered  and the instructor only showed us how steep it was when standing next to it at the very end. If Brum do build one, I would definitely go on it regularly.

[Jon Crofts]

Agree it was a bit intimidating, especially when you realise its a 42 degree slope wether you're at the top or bottom of the corner and having seen a veteran track world champion crash just before we went on track because he wasn't going fast enough to be on the boards above the red sprinters line.

Quite disconcerting to be cycling around above the blue line, look left and be overtaking a bunch of cyclists beneath you.

[Jon Crofts]

Next session 23rd Feb when I'll be doing my first novice race. Eek!

[Somniloquism]

On the velo track? How many sessions you had as I thought you needed four ‘exams’ before allowed to race. Good luck anyway.

[Jon Crofts]

You do to race an official race, this is just a club 2 hour session and the last 30 minutes will be unofficial club races in our groups, no timing or owt, just for the hell of it.

You're also not allowed to wear an aero TT helmet until you've got a licence.

[Somniloquism]

Well don't do a Gaimon. (although you won't be £250k in the red on medical bills if you do).

[Jon Crofts]

Froome pre season testing at the GSK human performance laboratory.

Ramp test of @chrisfroome with 25W increase every 3 min.
VO2 max: 84,6 ml/kg/min
Maximal power: 525,3 W
Maximal power in W/kg: 7,5 W/kg
Comment: He was 70 kg during that test and his Tdf weight is apparently 67 kg. So his maximal oxygen uptake could be as much as 88 ml/kg/min.

Not of this world!

[Somniloquism]

Next session 23rd Feb when I'll be doing my first novice race. Eek!

So how much did you win by?

[Jon Crofts]

Next session 23rd Feb when I'll be doing my first novice race. Eek!

So how much did you win by?

Sacked it off and went to Twickenham for England v Ireland!

Next session 21 March.

[Somniloquism]

Coronavirus detected in two Italian support staff at the UAE Tour so the race has been cancelled and all teams and media have been quarantined awaiting tests.

A good thing really as it apparently affects people with respiratory diseases more adversely and the amount of Pro Cyclists receiving Asthma medication means they would be at quite a high risk. 

[SteveN]

Coronavirus detected in two Italian support staff at the UAE Tour so the race has been cancelled and all teams and media have been quarantined awaiting tests.

A good thing really as it apparently affects people with respiratory diseases more adversely and the amount of Pro Cyclists receiving Asthma medication means they would be at quite a high risk. 

Bad news for Cavendish after his last few years struggling with glandular fever.

[Somniloquism]

Well no pro cycling for the forseeable and several European countries banning cycling anyway for whatever reasons, I just spalshed out on a turbo trainer. Just used my free 25km on Zwift. Seemed ok but not sure on splashing the cash at the moment for the rest. I still have a free month as well with the trainer but wondering if anyone has used other software. It is an Elite Suito trainer.